What A Marvelous Idea........

Tax the commercial business enterprises of churches and religious institutions. If Italy can do it with the Catholic Church....It would be a great precedent for cash strapped economies that are carrying the burden of taxpayer subsidies for the profit making commercial enterprises operated by churches. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17072211

Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools. - unsourced

To deny your oppressor's, or your own humanity is to descend into barbarism. - V. Chelloveck

Survival is a battle for the mind...mainly one's own. - V. Chelloveck

A beautiful idea founded on faulty reasoning is like a turd wrapped in gold foil, tinsel and glitter. Neither are wholesome if swollowed whole! - V. Chelloveck

What is a religion, but a cult with a larger following and a veneer of respectability. - V.C.

As a Roman Catholic I am all for this. If they are making a profit on the hostel's they should be paying taxes. Likewise on any other commercial property. We need to do the same in this country with any organization that is making a profit. However, if the revenue produced is going towards the function of the non-profit portion of the organization or charity it shouldn't be taxed. Also, there has to be a tax write off for the amount given to charity or used to fund the non-profit. This would more than likely net any taxes the church/non-profit would pay to ZERO.

Its a good way to create more bean counters and higher costs for the government and all of these non-profits. Create jobs that add no net gain to the system and further bog down a struggling economy.

In fact, they should do this for schools, hospitals, and government buildings too...

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."- Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love

If we do not lay ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?- John Adams

Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring. and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.- John 10:16

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.- Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

As a Roman Catholic I am all for this. If they are making a profit on the hostel's they should be paying taxes. Likewise on any other commercial property. We need to do the same in this country with any organization that is making a profit. However, if the revenue produced is going towards the function of the non-profit portion of the organization or charity it shouldn't be taxed. Also, there has to be a tax write off for the amount given to charity or used to fund the non-profit. This would more than likely net any taxes the church/non-profit would pay to ZERO.

Its a good way to create more bean counters and higher costs for the government and all of these non-profits. Create jobs that add no net gain to the system and further bog down a struggling economy.

In fact, they should do this for schools, hospitals, and government buildings too...

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FIRST, why is your signature pic so uncharacteristically enormous? It's kind of offensive for those who use slow connections and wish to access this forum.
SECOND --
As much as I despise organized religion (not the individual liberty itself) and the corruption and control it has, I must disagree entirely with the notion of taxing them. The separation of Church and State comes to mind, and as soon as the religious corporations are forced to pay into the system, they will also have a say in how their taxes are being used. I believe this to be a very bad idea, which is probably why it might gain support.

Talk about opening Pandora's box. The religious centers in this nation already have enormous control, imagine if that power is legitimized, too? No longer will there be 700 Club campaign drives for another right-wing presidential dynasty (the Bush's), either you are WITH them...or you are an ATHEIST. (get the connection to terrorist there?)

Danger, danger Will Robinson.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. "-- J. Krishnamurti“The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.” -- George Orwell

FIRST, why is your signature pic so uncharacteristically enormous? It's kind of offensive for those who use slow connections and wish to access this forum.
SECOND --
As much as I despise organized religion (not the individual liberty itself) and the corruption and control it has, I must disagree entirely with the notion of taxing them. The separation of Church and State comes to mind, and as soon as the religious corporations are forced to pay into the system, they will also have a say in how their taxes are being used. I believe this to be a very bad idea, which is probably why it might gain support.

Talk about opening Pandora's box. The religious centers in this nation already have enormous control, imagine if that power is legitimized, too? No longer will there be 700 Club campaign drives for another right-wing presidential dynasty (the Bush's), either you are WITH them...or you are an ATHEIST. (get the connection to terrorist there?)

Danger, danger Will Robinson.

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Thank you for bringing that to my attention. It has been taken care of.

I suppose you missed my sarcasm, I think the idea of trying to tax non-profits is insanity...

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."- Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love

If we do not lay ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?- John Adams

Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring. and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.- John 10:16

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.- Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

I don't see religious organisations in any great rush to eschew the benefits that they accrue from that very same system of slave exploiting taxation. Tithing apparently is cool, because it evidently isn't a tax and it is biblically sanctioned and encouraged, even though a tither ultimately is still out of pocket in much the same way as the tax payer, just that the redistibution of that part of their wealth is effected by the church and not by the secular government.

Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools. - unsourced

To deny your oppressor's, or your own humanity is to descend into barbarism. - V. Chelloveck

Survival is a battle for the mind...mainly one's own. - V. Chelloveck

A beautiful idea founded on faulty reasoning is like a turd wrapped in gold foil, tinsel and glitter. Neither are wholesome if swollowed whole! - V. Chelloveck

What is a religion, but a cult with a larger following and a veneer of respectability. - V.C.

I don't see religious organisations in any great rush to eschew the benefits that they accrue from that very same system of slave exploiting taxation. Tithing apparently is cool, because it evidently isn't a tax and it is biblically sanctioned and encouraged, even though a tither ultimately is still out of pocket in much the same way as the tax payer, just that the redistibution of that part of their wealth is effected by the church and not by the secular government.

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Depending on the person and religion. Tithing is also optional/voluntary.

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."- Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love

If we do not lay ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?- John Adams

Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring. and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.- John 10:16

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.- Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

I don't see religious organizations in any great rush to eschew the benefits that they accrue from that very same system of slave exploiting taxation.

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That’s because they have become corrupt and joined in the explotation.

Tithing apparently is cool, because it evidently isn't a tax and it is biblically sanctioned and encouraged, even though a tither ultimately is still out of pocket in much the same way as the tax payer, just that the redistribution of that part of their wealth is effected by the church and not by the secular government.

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The purpose of tithing changed with the early church. With Christ, having fulfilled the ceremonial aspects of the law, did away with all the sacrifices and all that that system entailed. The pattern we find in the New Testament is that the church came together on the first day of the week and gave money to be used to help the poor, sick and crippled among themselves and then out to the community in general. After studying this subject, I believe pattern we should now follow is to give for the purpose of supporting one or two pastors, depending on the size of the church, and for missions and helping the poor, sick and handicapped and that the amount is up to the convictions of each individual.

If there is a drive to tax "religions" but not tax all other non-profits then this is incorrect. I don't believe non-profits should be taxed. This would mean the NRA, PETA, NAACP and all the other groups would have to be taxed, too.

"This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector" - Plato

I wouldn't have a problem if non profits were subject to property taxes, but income? No.

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Yes, I have no issue with corporations being taxed on property, but citizens should not be tricked/forced into paying property taxes. If it's MY property, why should I have to pay tax on it to the State? This amounts to rent, and we all know who the real owners are. Of course, if our gov't actually operated within the confines of the Constitution with a legitimate currency, this issue would not even be much of a problem to begin with. We wouldn't have the tax courts and Admiralty Law, we wouldn't need private agencies kicking down doors and confiscating property.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. "-- J. Krishnamurti“The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.” -- George Orwell

Yes, I have no issue with corporations being taxed on property, but citizens should not be tricked/forced into paying property taxes. If it's MY property, why should I have to pay tax on it to the State? This amounts to rent, and we all know who the real owners are. Of course, if our gov't actually operated within the confines of the Constitution with a legitimate currency, this issue would not even be much of a problem to begin with. We wouldn't have the tax courts and Admiralty Law, we wouldn't need private agencies kicking down doors and confiscating property.

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As you say, you are not being taxed on "your" property. It isn't "yours" you have basically a license to be there. Nothing more than that, property tax is a license fee.